In Punjab, Cong faces heat as Khaira’s ‘anti-migrant’ pitch draws fireworks, from PM Modi to CM Mann

Addressing a rally in Khetla village in the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency on May 18, the Congress’s candidate Sukhpal Singh Khaira had called for bringing a law in Punjab along the lines of neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, which would bar a migrant, he said, from buying land or becoming voters or getting government jobs if that person does not fulfil certain state-stipulated conditions.

Khaira had expressed concern over Punjabis’ increasing “exodus” to foreign countries, claiming that if such a trend continues, Punjab’s natives would turn into a minority in the state.

While Khaira, a three-term MLA, has repeated his remarks at his subsequent rallies, he has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling AAP and the BJP over it. The Congress has tried to steer clear of the row, calling it Khaira’s “personal views”.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without naming Khaira, told a rally in Bihar’s Maharajganj: “They ( INDIA bloc) are insulting Bihar people. A Congress leader close to the royal family (Gandhi family) says people from Bihar should be boycotted, shouldn’t be given rights in Punjab or allowed to buy a house there, but the royal family keeps mum over it. Their mind is full of such hatred.”

In his reaction, Khaira accused PM Modi of “twisting” his remarks, denying that he has mentioned Biharis or called for migrants’ “boycott”. “I’m advocating a law like Himachal Pradesh that bars outsiders from buying land, becoming a voter or applying for govt jobs without clearing state conditions,” Khaira said in a statement.

“We have no objection if any non-Punjabi wants to earn a livelihood in Punjab but in case he/she wants to settle down permanently he/she should fulfil conditions similar to HP Tenancy Act 1972. Such a law is all